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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Panic attacks, anxiety disorders, phobias, and depression affect millions of people. Although medical experts believe that many times the aforementioned ailments originate within a person's psyche,...
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Sarah Winn
Supporter
For 16+ years I have been taking the antidepressants: Paxil, Celexa, Citalopram and currently I am on Cymbalta with Adderoll. I know in my life, I just had a physical, chemical imbalance of hormones in my physical brain. I know I relied on prayers and dependance on God to heal me. In order for Him to heal me, it was with the use of these antidepressants. My family has a history of panic attacks and depression so when I started taking them, it was not that big of an issue. I suffered a traumatic brain injury in 1999 from a car accident. In order for my brain cells to regenerate, God used these medicines to aid in the healing. This might work for others but talk to your doctor and allow God to help you. He is the original, great physician.
Randy Weaver
Supporter
In my humble opinion and experience: the LORD also uses doctors to heal. Will God heal a broken leg? Of course. Does he set it Himself? The answer is obvious. Why should mental illness be any different?
Jeffrey Johnson
Supporter
Should a Christian take antidepressants or other mental health medicines? Sadly, for some, medication is a temporary aspect of a treatment plan. They might take medicine on a limited basis to treat symptoms so they can better address the underlying causes. But at the same time, they continue to rely upon the Word of God and wise counsel for deeper healing and transformation in their hearts and minds, and often the need for medicine diminishes. At the same time, it would seem there are others whose bodies require long-term usage of antidepressants to keep symptoms at bay. Believers are counselled, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6; Romans 8:26–27; Hebrews 4:14–16). We are all called to carry one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2) and pray for one another (Ephesians 6:18; James 5:16). Those who are struggling with mental illness, just like all believers, benefit greatly from regular Bible study, regular prayer, and genuine community. Ultimately, God is the Great Physician, and it is He who holds the power to heal in all these ways (John 4:14). But until then, the person needing medication to survive will have to take them. How did Jesus handle anxiety? He didn't try to solve his problems on his own. Instead, he demonstrated how to live in deep connection with God – not despite our human emotions but in the midst of them! Jesus didn't stuff away his pain or worry. He placed all of his emotions at the feet of God the Father. Whether on medication or not, we should follow Jesus' example and put our emotions and problems at God's feet as Jesus did. The Scriptures assure that all unpleasant aspects of human society will disappear when God's heavenly Kingdom government replaces human political governments with divine rule of the earth. (Dan. 2:34, 44) Those on medication will surely benefit from association with persons who live according to such principles as mentioned in Col. 3:13-14 "forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye: 14 and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness." Those on medication will benefit from association with people who live by such principles. A chairman of the Mental Health Research Fund in London said, "By far the most significant discovery of mental science is the power of love to protect and restore the mind." Conclusion: Yes: Christians can take medication for mental health without forfeiting faith, undermining trust in God, or committing sin as long as such use is rooted in a wise, integrated, and accountable approach. Medication is a tool, not a spiritual admission of failure.
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